Vacation rental platforms like Whimstay and Airbnb have become increasingly popular options for travelers looking for alternatives to hotels. But with so many sites to choose from, how do you know which one to use?
Here we’ll compare the pros and cons of Whimstay and Airbnb to help you decide which vacation rental platform is best for your next trip.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Whimstay | Airbnb |
| Number of Listings | 300,000 | Over 6 million |
| Locations | Mainly US and Europe | Over 100,000 cities globally |
| Fee for Guests | 8-12% | 0-20% |
| Fee for Hosts | 4-6% | 3-5% |
| Damage Protection | $3M | $1M |
| Booking Experience | Simple with availability calendar | More filters and map view |
| Payments | Credit card, PayPal, installments | Credit card, PayPal |
| Support | FAQ and email/phone | Large knowledge base |
Overview Of Whimstay And Airbnb
Founded in 2008, Airbnb is the largest and most well-known vacation rental platform. It offers over 6 million listings for short and long-term stays in over 100,000 cities worldwide. Airbnb provides a platform to connect hosts who want to rent out their properties with guests looking for accommodations.
Whimstay is a newer vacation rental platform that launched in 2017. While much smaller than Airbnb, Whimstay aims to compete by focusing on building a strong community and offering lower service fees.
The site currently has around 300,000 listings located mostly in popular destinations across the US and Europe.
Comparing Key Features
When choosing between Whimstay and Airbnb, here are some of the key features to compare:
Listings
- Airbnb has a significantly larger listing inventory – over 6 million compared to Whimstay’s 300,000. Airbnb is global, while Whimstay focuses on US and Europe.
- Both sites offer entire homes, apartments, private rooms, unique stays like boats and RVs. Airbnb has more boutique hotels.
- Airbnb listings include over 100,000 cities worldwide. Whimstay is concentrated in popular tourist destinations.
Booking Experience
- The booking process is straightforward on both sites. Users can search by location and dates, filter by amenities, price, etc.
- Whimstay offers a live availability calendar so you can easily see blackout dates.
- Airbnb has more search filters and an extensive map view for spatial browsing.
Payments
- Both sites allow guests to pay the host directly via credit card or PayPal.
- Whimstay also offers payment installment plans to split up the cost.
Fees
- Airbnb’s service fee for guests is 0-20% of the rental cost. Hosts pay 3-5%.
- Whimstay has lower service fees – guests pay 8-12%, hosts pay 4-6%
- Whimstay does not charge cleaning or additional guest fees. Airbnb hosts can add these on.
Protection & Support
- Airbnb offers $1M insurance protection for property damage. Whimstay provides $3M protection.
- Both offer 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and messaging.
- Airbnb has a large support center with articles. Whimstay has a simpler FAQ.
Also Read: Comparison Between Cruise Planners And Dream Vacations.
Pros And Cons Of Whimstay
Pros
- Lower service fees compared to Airbnb
- Availability calendar makes checking dates easy
- Payment installments help split up the cost
- $3M protection coverage for damage
Cons
- Much smaller listing inventory than Airbnb
- Limited mainly to US and Europe destinations
- Fewer search filters and browsing options
- Smaller support knowledge base than Airbnb
Pros And Cons Of Airbnb
Pros
- Largest selection of 6+ million vacation rental listings globally
- Listings in over 100,000 cities worldwide
- Robust search and mapping capabilities to find ideal listings
- Cover for property damage up to $1M
- Extensive support center and articles
Cons
- Service fees for guests and hosts are higher
- No availability calendar to easily view dates
- Hosts can charge extra cleaning/guest fees
- More expensive for longer stays 30+ days
Whimstay And Airbnb: Which Is Better For Guests?
For most travelers, Airbnb is the better option thanks to its unrivaled selection of listings worldwide, robust platform features, and strong brand reputation. However, Whimstay could be a good alternative for budget-conscious guests thanks to lower service fees and payment plans.
Whimstay is best suited for travelers who:
- Want to save money on service fees
- Are flexible on location/dates and don’t need millions of listing options
- Are booking a short vacation rental in a popular US/Europe destination
Airbnb is a better fit for guests who:
- Want the widest selection and availability of listings globally
- Prefer an established brand with strong support and reputation
- Need a long term stay over 30 days (Airbnb offers discounts)
- Appreciate robust search, filter, and mapping capabilities
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Whimstay And Airbnb: Which Is Better For Hosts?
For property owners and managers, Airbnb is likely the better platform for hosting vacation rentals. Airbnb simply has significantly more site traffic and booking volume that enables hosts to maximize occupancy.
That said, Whimstay could be a good alternative for hosts who:
- Want to list properties in US and Europe destinations only
- Prefer Whimstay’s lower 4-6% service fees
- Like Whimstay’s $3M damage protection coverage
Overall though, most hosts will benefit more from Airbnb’s larger reach, higher booking conversion, and management tools. Unless only listing in Whimstay’s regions, Airbnb remains the leader for hosting vacation rentals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Airbnb’s biggest competitor is Vrbo (formerly HomeAway), which also offers vacation rental listings worldwide. Vrbo has around 2 million listings compared to Airbnb’s 6 million.
Airbnb tends to be more expensive than Vrbo mainly because Airbnb charges guests and hosts higher service fees. Vrbo’s traveler service fees are only 5-10% compared to Airbnb’s 0-20%. The extra fees on Airbnb drive up the nightly rates.
There are a few cheaper vacation rental sites compared to Airbnb. Top options include:
Vrbo – Lower 5-10% service fee for guests
Vacasa – Nightly rates up to 20% lower than Airbnb
TripAdvisor Rentals – Cheaper service fee at 1-3%
Vrbo is Airbnb’s biggest and most direct competitor in the vacation rental space. Both offer short and long term rentals worldwide. Vrbo has around 2 million listings Vs. Airbnb’s 6 million but tends to have lower nightly rates.
The Verdict
When comparing Whimstay Vs. Airbnb, Airbnb still comes out on top as the leading vacation rental platform overall. While sites like Whimstay offer lower fees and other benefits, Airbnb’s brand reach, robust platform, and vast inventory make it hard for smaller competitors to dethrone the giant.
For most travelers and hosts, Airbnb remains the best vacation rental site thanks to its selection, features, and reputation as a leader in the market. However, platforms like Whimstay do provide viable alternatives worth considering, especially for saving on fees.